Impedance mis-match?


Given the following component s

V-link USB/spdif converter - spfdif output states 50 ohm impedance
Bifrost DAC - spdif input states 75 ohm impedance

Which cable would be best to connect these components
1. a 50 ohm cable
2. a 75 ohm cable

Would there be any other issues?

Many thanks
williewonka
I would use 75 ohm cable, since reflection from the other end is possibly worse, as Al stated, but also because output RCA connector is not likely 75 ohm anyway.

I would use very short cable - as short as possible. Wire becomes transmission line when propagation time is longer than 1/8 of transition time. Assuming typical 25ns output transitions cable should be limited to propagation time of about 3ns, equivalent to about 2 feet (5ns/m). Since internal connections on both sides (including PCB traces) count I would limit it further to 1foot max. Otherwise I would use 1.5-2 m cable to ensure that reflections from the other end miss originating transition.
I use a V-link192 connected with a 75 ohm Wireworld Starlite 7 cable into a Wyred4Sound Dac1. Sounds better than my Esoteric UX-3 SACD player.
I'm using a v-link to a bifrost and have so for almost a year. It gets used about 40 hours a week. Never has faltered at all and sounds spectacular for the money.
I've been using a V-Link 192 to a Schiit Gungnir via DH Labs Silver Sonic D-750 for a year. Things sound great.
Here's the response from MF...

most digital parts I know of are 50 ohms (or 100 ohms balanced) to preserve square wave edges. That said at these relatively lowish frequencies (low MHz) such a mismatch is unlikely to cause problems unless going into extremely long cables.
So nothing for your average home user to worry about.....
Very best regards,

Randy Bingham
Phoenix, AZ. 85076
National Sales Manager
Musical Fidelity LTD.

I am extremely happy with mine - my Bifrost has never sounded so good.

And remember - Don't shoot the messenger :-)